Expert’s Rating
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Our Verdict
The in style craw of MacBook Pro laptops from Apple has several new features , such as a new generation of Intel processors , improved dual graphics , and increase battery life . Most of the change , however , are banish to the 15- and 17 - inch good example . The13 - column inch modelsremain the least expensive of the Pro line , but also rest the most standardized to the old generation .
What’s changed
Both new 13 - in MacBook Pro models admit Nvidia ’s GeForce 320 M integrated artwork , which shares a minimum of 256 MB of main computer memory . This replaces the GeForce 9400 M integrate graphics in the previous generation ( which shared the same amount and type of random-access memory ) . In our testing , the new 13 - inch models achieved much better frame rates on our Call of Duty test . For instance , at 38.9 frames per second , the 2.4GHz MacBook Pro did 15.2 frames per second better than the higher - end , 2.53GHz 2009 framework — an improvement of 64 percent . They still lagged way behind the new low - end 15 - inch MacBook Pro , which garnered 68.4 frames per 2nd thanks to it discrete graphics .
In the area of battery liveliness , Apple claim a three - hour increase over the premature 13 - inch MacBook Pros — the new model proffer up to 10 hours of bombardment life , alternatively of seven . Part of the long biography is due to a somewhat higher electrical capacity work up - in battery—63.5 watt hours versus 60 watt hour in the previous model . But Apple credits most of the melioration to the greater efficiency of the GeForce 320 M graphics over the 9400M. Our received stamp battery test , which act a loop video in QuickTime until the battery die , showed a life of 4 hour and 19 minutes for the 2.4GHz model and 4 hours and 33 minutes for the 2.66GHz model . Those compare favorably to the 2009 13 - inch 2.26GHz ( 3 hours and 30 minutes ) and 2.53GHz ( 3 hour and 38 minute ) models , as well as the current MacBook ( ) model ( 3 hours and 45 minutes ) . In simple terms , the battery do indeed last longer . ( orchard apple tree utilise adifferent methodology for battery examination , wirelessly browsing Websites and editing text edition in a word processing document with display brightness set to 50 pct . )
The newfangled MacBook Pros have the same Multi - Touch glass trackpad as before , but the railway line adds a new trick . All of the new MacBook Pros ( including the 13 - column inch models ) now have inertial scrolling . Just like on an iPhone , iPod jot , or iPad , swipe your finger down to scroll through a long Web page , for example , and the momentum continues the scrolling until it gradually dies off . The feature seems right at home on the MacBook Pro and will be familiar to anyone who has used Apple ’s iPhone OS devices .
Longer bars are better. Blue bars in italics represent reference systems. Macworld Lab testing by James Galbraith, Chris Holt, Chris Holt, Lynn La, and Meghann Myers.
Another new feature , common to the entire MacBook Pro occupation , is the power for the Mini DisplayPort connector to output multichannel audio in improver to the picture sign it has always carry ( the MacBook Pro confirm mirroring or extending your desktop on an outside display up to 2560 by 1600 picture element , but the arranger need are all optional accessories ) . To test it out , I purchased the $ 9Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Adapterfrom Monoprice . I then connect the MacBook Pro to my HDTV using the HDMI overseas telegram and stimulation that I unremarkably use for my Blu - ray histrion . Although it worked for video ( let me play beautiful 720p video without problem ) the sound did n’t play through my TV , alternatively do out of the MacBook Pro ’s build - in speakers . I asked Apple about it and the company recommends high - calibre cables such as the $ 40Griffin Video Display Converteravailable on the Apple Store , saying that some lower - priced cables do n’t work ( Monoprice has since updated the product Thomas Nelson Page to say “ This Cartesian product does NOT support audio for the 2010 MacBook that output audio through the Mini DisplayPort . ” )
What’s the same
Although the 15- and 17 - inch MacBook Pros include Intel ’s unexampled Core i5 or Core i7 mobile processors , the 13 - inch MacBook Pro continue to use the Core 2 Duo line of processors . In the 13 - inch size , Apple offers a 2.4GHz dual - magnetic core CPU in the $ 1199 model , and a 2.66GHz dual - core central processing unit in the $ 1499 example ( up from 2.26GHz ( ) and 2.53Ghz ( ) in the previous generation , severally ) . Each has 3 M on - bit L2 cache shared between the two core .
Some users have wondered why Apple decided to stick with Core 2 span processor instead of using the newIntel Core i3 in the 13 - column inch line . Although one could cynically speculate that it ’s design to ‘ lame ’ the low - end MacBook Pro with honest-to-goodness technology to pull people to spend more , it seems more likely that Apple did n’t want to habituate the Intel HD integrated nontextual matter that such a move would require ( the 15- and 17 - inch models admit Intel HD artwork , but have dedicated Nvidia graphics processors as well ) .
Both models now include 4 GB of 1066MHz DDR3 RAM , and support a max of 8 GB ( antecedently , the $ 1199 MacBook Pro only came with 2 GB ) . Just as before , there are two USB 2.0 ports , one FireWire 800 port , a Mini DisplayPort graphics connexion , a Gigabit ethernet porthole , 802.11n and Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR wireless technology , an SD placard one-armed bandit , a full - sized backlit keyboard , an 8x time slot - adulterate dual - layer DVD SuperDrive , build - in stereoscopic picture speakers ( which fathom quite good ) , a single porthole for audio in and out ( include support for digital output ) , and a built - in iSight camera . The young poser include 250 GB or 320 GB 5400 - rev hard drive ( up from 160 GB or 250 GB drive , respectively , at the same speeds ) .
These MacBook Pros use the same light-emitting diode - backlit 1280 - by-800 pixel shiny presentation as the previous models ( there are no antiglare or high - resolving display options , as there are on the 15- and 17 - inch good example ) . The displays are very bright , and the viewing angle is respectible in the horizontal direction , but not that enceinte vertically — you really ask to adjust the slant of the display to achieve optimal wake .
New 13-inch MacBook Pro: Speedmark scores
long legal profession are secure . Blue bars in italics represent computer address system . Macworld Lab testing by James Galbraith , Chris Holt , Chris Holt , Lynn La , and Meghann Myers .
The Macworld Lab perform its stock bevy of test on these young example , and compared them to the previous contemporaries of 13 - inch MacBook Pro , the unexampled 2.4GHz 15 - column inch MacBook Pro , and the 13 - inch unibody MacBook .
In our Speedmark 6 suite , the new models scored 118 for the 2.4GHz role model and 126 for the 2.66GHz model ( liken with 107 and 123 for the premature generation , severally , and 112 for the MacBook)—the difference due , mostly , to the improved figure charge per unit scores thanks to the Nvidia 320 M graphics .
Other tests showed rather negligible deltas , with the new models in general doing slimly better than their same - monetary value counterparts from 2009 . The one big anomaly was our Compressor test on the 2.4GHz 2010 13 - inch MacBook Pro , which took longer to make out than even the lily-white MacBook . And in our folder duplicate and Parallels WordBench 6 multi - task psychometric test , the old gamey - end 13 - inch mannequin beat even the new good example with a faster C.P.U. by a small morsel .
In some hands - on examination lead Adobe Photoshop CS3 and CS4 and Aperture 3 , I base even the 2.4GHz example to be passable . And while run Windows XP in Parallels Desktop 4 , encode an HD MKV file for Apple TV using VideoMonkey , and playing a pour Netflix TV show installment in Safari at the same time ( with the computing machine seat flat on a desk ) , the back of the MacBook Pro acquire warm where the battery is , but not uncomfortably so . After running for about 15 minute , the max outside temperature ( at the very back , near the nonparallel issue ) was 107 degrees as measured by an infrared temperature gimmick used to monitor HVAC systems in our office .
13-inch 2.4GHz and 2.66GHz Core 2 Duo
MacBook Pros
in force results inbold . acknowledgment system initalics .
Call of Duty score is in frames per secondly . MathematicaMark is a operation score . All others are in minute of arc : seconds . All systems were test with 10.6.3 and 4 GB RAM . The Photoshop Suite test is a stage set of 14 scripted tasks using a 50 MB file . Photoshop ’s memory was set to 70 percent and History was set to Minimum . We record how long it took to render a scenery with mulitprocessors in CinemaBench . We used Compressor to encode a MOV file to the covering ’s H.264 for telecasting podcast context . We timed the import and thumbnail / trailer universe metre for 150 photos . In iMovie , we imported a camera archive and exported it to iTunes for Mobile Devices setting . We convert 90 minute of AAC audio files to MP3 using iTunes ’ High Quality scene . We Unzipped a 2 GB archive in the Finder . We run WorldBench 6 multitasking examination on a Parallels VM . We imported 150 JPEGs into iPhoto . We used HandBrake to rend a DVD chapter to the hard drive . We open a 500 - page Word document in Pages ’ 09.—Macworld laboratory examination by James Galbraith , Chris Holt , Lynn La , and Meghann Myers
Macworld’s buying advice
If you already have the late 13 - inch MacBook Pro , there ’s not a quite a little of grounds to upgrade unless you plainly must have the newest version of everything . The change to the 13 - inch lineup are mostly about improved graphics and battery life , and they are n’t all that dissimilar from the year before — and it ’s more or less difficult to justify the $ 1499 framework based only on its large gruelling effort and more or less faster processor , which did n’t transform to much divergence in our tests .
To get the most from the fresh generation of MacBook Pros , you ’ll need to step up to the larger sizes , which take reward of the i5 and i7 central processor and their own graphics improvement . Still , at 4.5 Sudanese pound and less than 9 inches deep , thje 13 - inch MacBook Pro is the most portable Pro model available , and for many user the modest weight and size make up for the middling limited ( relatively ) performance .
And the young model make a wider break between the 13 - column inch MacBook Pros and the corresponding - sized , $ 999 MacBook . Starting at $ 200 more than the MacBook , you get a faster processor , an aluminum envelopment , a FireWire larboard ( of the 800 variety ) , twice the standard RAM , Nvidia GeForce 320 M graphics , a built - in SD poster reader , a backlit keyboard , a longer - hold up battery , and a trackpad that supports inertial scrolling .
[ Jonathan Seff is a Macworld older editor program . ]
[ Updated at 2:47PM Pacific to add entropy on Apple ’s assault and battery testing method acting . ]
